Youth markets boost students’ business skills

Students at Castle Manor and Samuel Ward Academies will showcase their business prowess at Haverhill Youth Market on Saturday, May 16.

The market is part of National Love Your Local Market fortnight (May 13 to May 27).

The students, aged 13 to 16 were set the challenge of creating a business with a start up grant of just £50.

Castle Manor’s teams have been busy with one team choosing to practice their bakery skills with a stall selling cakes, cookies and sweets as ‘Sweet Treats’. Another will be producing sweet kebabs, candy floss and cakes and will trade as ‘Sweet Shack’.

Samuel Ward’s teams have been polishing their business skills ready for the market. One team will be hoping for a sweet taste of success selling confectionary as ‘Factory of Sugar’ while another will be selling bath bombs and candles.

Youth Skills Manager Karen Chapple, who was appointed by ONE Haverhill to build links between business and education in Haverhill and develop apprenticeship and training opportunities for young people in the town, organised the event in partnership with the town’s two academies.

She said: “I cannot wait to see what the students have come up with, it sounds like they have been very busy working on their businesses for the big day. We hope that this project has taught them a little about business, teamwork, strategy and leadership.”

Sharon Fairweather, markets development officer for St Edmundsbury Borough Council which runs the markets, said: “The Haverhill youth market is a great way to begin the National Love Your Local Market fortnight. We are pleased to be working with ONE Haverhill and the Castle Manor and Samuel Ward Academies.”